Sunday, December 6, 2015

In what looks like a budding political campaign --- Bob Capano goes back to some favorite old themes

Former Republican City Council Candidate Bob Capano has been hacking away at the opposition on his computer issuing statements going after Bay Ridge Islamic activist Linda Sarsour for her more outrageous anti-police rhetoric and lawless behavior --- The once [and future?] GOP City Council Candidate again goes after Linda Sarsour and NYC Councilman Vinny Gentile in a series of E-Mail releases"FORMER DIRECTOR OF BROOKLYN COMMUNITY BOARDS SAYS LINDA SARSOUR DOES NOT BELONG ON COMMUNITY BOARD 10 AFTER HER PARTICIPATION IN ANTI-POLICE DEMONSTRATION‏ -- CAPANO SAYS SARSOUR’S ANTI-POLICE VIEWS DOES NOT REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF BAY RIDGE & DYKER HEIGHTS"* --- ROBERT CAPANO, E-MAILED PRESS RELEASE

__________________________

*Note: Emphasis and Caps were Mr. Capano's

Mr. Capano, was Director of Community Boards under former Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, today called on Linda Sarsour to resign from Community Board 10 or for Borough President Eric Adams and Councilman Gentile to not re-appoint her after a video showed her participating in an anti-police protest and getting arrested. His thoughts were contained in three similar E-mail releases that were distributed to separate mailing lists maintained by Capano.
Since Mr.Capano also was the Republican, Conservative, and Independence party candidate against Gentile in 2009, one cannot escape concluding that these releases definitely look like they have a political purpose that goes beyond bashing Ms. Sarsour and the Democrat officeholders that Capano mentioned.

According to Capano's statement --- “When I was director of Brooklyn community boards, I always recommended to the Borough President individuals for appointment who were in touch with the general values and needs of a community. Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights has always been communities known for their strong support of the NYPD and the 68th Precinct. Linda Sarsour, through her active participation at this protest where vile statements were made against the NYPD, and where she was arrested, demonstrates that she does not represent the values of the community and should not be a member of Community Board 10. She should resign. If she does not, Councilman Gentile and Borough President Adams should finally say ‘enough is enough’ with her pattern of irresponsible and extreme actions and make sure she is not re-appointed.”

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

On Thursday, December 3rd, protesters led by something called "The Justice League of New York" protested against the NYC Police Department outside of Gracie Mansion. Video from the event showed a protester yelling in the face of a police officer, “Nobody looks at you like a hero, just a racist.” In addition, there were repeated chants at that demonstration about “the violence of the racist police." The video also showed a number of protesters being arrested, including Linda Sarsour, the Islamic activist from Bay Ridge.

Reflecting on what he saw in the video, Bob Capano made note of the following: “Having been born and raised in Bay Ridge, I know that these comments do not represent the community. Maybe Chairman [of Board 10] Brian Kieran should call for a vote expressing the support of Community Board 10 for the NYPD to demonstrate that Linda Sarsour does not represent the views of the board, Bay Ridge, or Dyker Heights.”

Maybe it's just me, but maybe -- just maybe -- this is beginning to look a lot like a budding political campaign for something.

_______________________________
** NOTE: A link to the video referred to by Mr. Capano is at: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/12/04/black-lives-matter-protester-walks-up-to-nypd-officer-delivers-shockingly-nasty-message-to-his-face/

54 comments:

Anonymous
said...

Gail, your missing a bigger part of the Bob Capano story then what he saying about Sarsour, Gentile and the Democrats on Board Ten. He spoke to a bunch of people that YOU talk to and you should know that he asked them whether they thought a Republican could win the City Council seat after Gentile runs out of term limits. Capano also is asking a lot of questions about Kevin Carroll, Justin Barron and Golden's wag Johnny Quags.

LINDA SARSOUR RESPONDS TO BOB CAPANO’S ATTACKS IN BROOKLYN EAGLE ARTICLE COVERING CAPANO”S RECENT DEMAND THAT SARSOUR BE EJECTED OR NOT BE REAPPOINTED TO LOCAL PLANNING BOARD

“.... HE HAS POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS AND HE’S USING ME AS HIS PLATFORM TO GIVE HIMSELF RELEVANCY....” — LINDA SARSOUR’S TEXT MESSAGE QUOTED BY THE BROOKLYN EAGLE

According to remarks quoted in a Brooklyn Eagle article, Linda Sarsour thinks that “.... ‘Capano knows first-hand that community board appointments are not based in any political litmus tests. I have been a police reform activist for 10 years and I am engaging in protected free speech activities afforded to all citizens of our district. It’s disgraceful that Capano is suggesting that only certain viewpoints are welcome to community boards,’ Sarsour told the Brooklyn Eagle via text message.... ‘Let’s be clear: Bob Capano is trying to rebuild his failed political career on my back,’ Sarsour said, noting that Capano ran for City Council and for state Assembly and lost both times. ‘He has political aspirations and he’s using me as his platform to give himself relevancy.’...” (See “Capano calls on Sarsour to resign from Community Board 10" by Paula Katinas, 12/7/15, The Brooklyn Daily Eagle [http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/2015/12/7/capano-calls-sarsour-resign-community-board-10]).

Earlier in that article, Paula Katinas had written the following about Bob Capano and his public statements concerning Ms. Sarsour: “In a move that could be seen as a pre-emptive strike against a future political rival, Bob Capano, a member of the Staten Island Republican County Committee, called on controversial Arab-American civic leader Linda Sarsour, a Democrat, to resign from her membership on Community Board 10 (Bay Ridge-Dyker Heights) in the wake of her participation in an anti-police demonstration outside Gracie Mansion on Dec. 3.... Capano is said to be eyeing a run for the Bay Ridge City Council seat currently held by Democrat Vincent Gentile. Sarsour is also rumored to be looking at the possibility of running for the seat. Gentile is term-limited and will leave office at the end of 2017....”

To me the most interesting thing in Paula Katinas' report was that Sarsour's quote makes it clear that Sarsour thinks that it's only by attacks on HER that political relevance can be bestowed on somebody like Bob Capano. Does that say more about Sarsour or Capano?

I hear local dems not too happy about being put on the defensive on this whole Sarsour issue. Agree with him or not, like him or not, Bob showed some political savvy in this issue and thrusting himself back in news. I don't remember John Q during his entire campaign jumping on a singular issue like this & being aggressive

John Quaglione cast his lot with the disastrous Joe Lhota campaign and that sealed his fate early on. Facing Gentile is one thing but both Quaglione and Capano should have a decent chance against the likes of Brannan, Carroll, or Sarsour.

RESPONSE: THE "MARCEL MARCEAU --- STUCK IN A BOX WITHOUT A VOICE" EDITION

JOHN QUAGLIONE WAS GIVEN THE 2013 NOMINATION AS THE REPUBLICAN AND CONSERVATIVE PARTY NOMINEE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL FROM BAY RIDGE, DYKER HEIGHTS & B-HURST IN A GIFT BOX WRAPPED IN NICE SHINY PAPER AND TOPPED WITH A BOW -- WHEN MR. Q OPENED IT, THE ONLY THING IN THE BOX WAS HIM -- HE LIKED HIS GIFT SO MUCH, HE NEVER TOOK IT OUT OF THE BOX

IT'S A FORETASTE OF WHAT A BROOKLYN GOP UNDER TEDDY GHORRA WILL BE LIKE

The way the GOP and the Conservative Party treated Quaglione and Quaglione's Campaign for the City Council shows how things will be in the whole Brooklyn GOP if Marty Golden's guy Ted Ghorra ever were to become KCRP Chairman. Any local Republican candidate, whose name is not "Martin Golden," will be treated as if the GOP (and Conservative Party) nomination for any office is such a wonderful gift that it will be given to the nominee only if it is left untouched and kept in its original packaging. All GOP candidacies, except SSMG's re-election races, will consist of passing around the hermetically sealed candidates for everybody to see, but not to interact with or hear from in any real sense.

In middle of his full participation in the Brooklyn YRs Holiday Event at Melody Lanes last night, Bob Capano had several of the twenty to twenty-five attendees come up to him and commit their support for a race for the NYC Council in 2017 [which has been discussed herein above] if he should choose to go for it.

In an exclusive one-on-one interview with the prospective candidate, Bob Capano, several things were discussed including the need for early independent polling and early fund-raising.

Bob said that he thought activity during the 2016 campaign season will be very important for him in 2017. He indicated that there should be several competitive GOP candidacies in 2016, some by incumbents and others by first-timers; and that he would be both visible and active during those campaigns.

Second, even though Bob Capano currently lives in Staten Island, he was born and bred in the Bay Ridge, Dyker, Bensonhurst City Council District; and he certainly can move back into the council district at any time when it's necessary.

Next, Capano also believes that he most likely will have the support of at least one elected Republican and one City-wide GOP candidate in any race that he launches for the NY City Council in Brooklyn; and that they will openly support and join in his efforts to take and hold the Republican line against all challengers that might present themselves.

Lastly, Bob sees the next City-wide race as a "turning point" for the "revival of the Brooklyn GOP" -- with the possibility of several strong City Council races in Brooklyn.

It is very likely bob will have the support of elected republicans in staten island and nyc. Maybe he will even have the support of a former democratic brooklyn borough president or two that he held senior positions with for many years.

dont know if that is true or not, i just did a google search and the only thing i saw was that Bob was ULRICH campaign manager for his 2012 state senate campaign, nothing out there about this Lou Simon..

Even if it is true, wow a Republican who works with and has relationships with Democrats, including working with Howard Golden and Marty markowitz. In the council district that is exactly what is needed for a Reppublican to actually win in an area where dems outnumber republicans, someone who can attract dems and independents..maybe this explains why there seems to be some real fear of capano jumping in this race..

If it is republicans/conservatives complaining about his "possible" work with Lou Simon and democrats, are we saying its only ok for Marty Golden to work with & support democrats??? We saw how well John did with zero appeal outside of Republican base.

RESPONSE: THE "SOMETIMES, SOMETHINGS DONE AGAINST RINOs, WHO DISRUPT THEIR COUNTY GOP ORGANIZATIONS, IS NOT A BAD THING" EDITION

I don't know anything about the urban legend that Bob Capano did anything for Lew Simon against Erich Ulrich in Queens.... but Bob has had recent good conversations with Bob Turner.... so there's what you need to know about what's going on in Queens GOP politics....

Besides, as far as I'm concerned, there is absolutely nothing wrong in a lot of what happens in hard fought intra-GOP warfare, especially against RINOs.

So, making alliances with certain Dems that are co-belligerents against any RINO incumbent, who is disdainful and disruptive of their local Republican Party, is an important aspect of party discipline on one hand, and intra-GOP guerrilla warfare on the other. That's especially true where the RINO incumbent has his own deals with the Democrats, is more loyal to a local third party and to a majority caucus in Albany than he is to the local GOP rank-'n'-file; and who has been by his nature and behavior a cancer on the local GOP.

Whatever side or faction you're coming from pretty ominous for the future of the Brooklyn Republican Party that only credible candidates for foreseeable future besides John Quaglione is a woman who lost about twenty elections and a guy who doesn't even live in Brooklyn.

Fact- John Q ran in 2013 and in addition to name ID since he ran last gets first opportunity to be GOP, Conservative candidateFact- You need conservative party support to win and John will have that- he works in the same office as the ChairmanFact- John has helped thousands of constituents through the past decadesFact- Marty Golden will ensure John has the financial resources to beat any GOP opponent in a primary, including Capano

If John wants to be the GOP candidate he will be one way or the other.

Capano's support for local Republican candidates in and around the 43rd council district hasn't amounted to much. It's safe to say if he were to move back he will probably get the same support in return.

Discussions, conversations, rumors, whatever you might call it --- When you come right down to it, it's only the deeds and actions by the "CANDIDATES" that matter.

So far, with almost no expenditure of $$$$, time or heavy lifting of any kind, Bob Capano has succeeded in getting quite a bit of EARNED MEDIA -- such as a front page on the Bay Ridge Eagle, and other local paper coverage, blog commentary and word of mouth. Also, except for the few less-than-credible comments shilling for John Quaglione above, Capano is the FIRST, and so far only, person being mentioned as the GOP candidate for City Council to succeed Vinny G.

BTW, this is the BEST gag line that I have seen or heard so far in connection with the NYCC race in the 43rd CCD in 2017: ".... Fact- Marty Golden will ensure John has the financial resources to beat any GOP opponent in a primary, including Capano...." BAWAHFFF-HAHAHAHAHAHAHA-OH-HOHOHOHOHO-HAR-HAR-HAR-HEE-HEE-HEE

Gale....Anonymous at 412pm...Golden will never ever spend any of his money on anybody. He needs it for himself for 2016.

BTW did you see Golden's recent twitters taking photos and saying he is with "Chairman of the Brooklyn Republican Party Ted Ghorra"...isnt there a lawsuit pending....isnt Ghorra going to lose that lawsuit.

Shouldnt Golden be admonished by the Senate and possibly others for sending out false and fraudulent Twitter messages?

I thought the Judge said that nobody could be chairman until the case was over?

Bob Capano is looking for offices to run on Staten Island and is not coming back to Brooklyn to participate in a brutal primary for the privilege of getting crushed in the general election of the Democrat heavy 43rd Council District. It will be Q by default but he doesn't seem that interested anymore. Maybe Kevin Peter Carroll upon realizing getting the Democratic line is a lost cause switches over and tries to get the GOP nod since he is so chummy with the Brooklyn Conservatives already. All kidding aside if Quaglione doesn't want it the GOP gonna have to pull a name out of a hat.

The key portions of my "RESPONSE" to the comment above is "ALL OF THAT..." and "SILLY" --- that about covers it pretty well, I think.

There is one lighter note, quite humorous actually --- "Bob Capano is ... not coming back to Brooklyn to participate in a brutal primary...." --- Really, I mean SERIOUSLY: "... a brutal primary..." ??? From whom ??? John Q ???

If all the "thousands of constituents ... John has helped...through the past decades" didn't come out for him in the 2013 general election, why would they come out for him in 2017 Republican and Conservative primaries ???

About Me

I formerly have commented on various political blogs concerning Republican politics. Although the focus of my political commentary has been on the Brooklyn GOP and other aspects of politics in Brooklyn, I have also posted commentary about national matters.
If you wish to contact Galewyn Massey directly, please, Email to galewynmasban@gmail.com